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Try a new convenient way to apply for Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Online...fast, easy and confidential. Click the link below to get started! Applications must be renewed annually.

Cashless Lunch Lines!Make online payments with payments to your student's meal account with EZ School Pay. Online payments are a simple, safe and secure way to make payments to your students account 24 hours a day at your convenience.

Effective July 1, 2012, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) is rescinding the universal TB testing requirement for children entering kindergarten or a California school for the first time. Instead, universal TB screening and risk-based testing will be incorporated into the existing CA State physical examination requirement for children entering first grade.

Message from the Superintendent

U.S. Secretary of Education, John B. King, Jr., designated Hawthorne Math and Science Academy (HMSA) as a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School.

HMSA is one of four California high schools that received this honor, and is one among 279 public and 50 private schools named across the nation. HMSA is also one of a select few that can boast being a two-time recipient of this prestigious award. Previously, HMSA was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2010.

Schools are nominated for the award by the state department of education, and then complete a comprehensive application about school practices. HMSA was recognized as being “Exemplary High Performing” among the top schools in a state.

HMSA was honored at a two-day awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. to celebrate this great achievement.

Zela Davis Project Lead the Way

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Our Preschools

Preschool has a new look in the Hawthorne School District this year. For the last few years our preschools have offered a half day program for four year old students to better prepare them for kindergarten. Beginning this year, our three and four year old students may attend a full day program at Zela Davis Preschool, Eucalyptus Preschool or may qualify for our PrePare program at Prairie Vista South School. All of these programs are free for our qualifying families. The students are engaged in activities to prepare them socially, emotionally, and academically for their transition into kindergarten. The students are provided with a nutritious breakfast and lunch, have an opportunity to engage in meaningful play activities, and are provided with academic opportunities that are aligned with our kindergarten curriculum. The Zela Davis and Eucalyptus Preschools are full-year programs and are currently enrolling students. To inquire about eligibility please contact the preschool office at 310-219-2837 or 310-219-2821.

The Hawthorne School District is pleased to announce that five of its elementary schools have earned Gold Ribbon status from the California Department of Education. Kornblum, Ramona, Washington, York, and Zela Davis were included on the list of 2016 Gold Ribbon School recipients announced on April 13th by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

"These schools shine as bright beacons for others, putting forth an exemplary effort to ensure that every student is ready for 21st century college and careers," Torlakson said.

The California Gold Ribbon Schools Award was created to honor schools in place of the previous California Distinguished Schools Program, which is on hiatus while California creates new assessment and accountability systems. Nearly 6,000 elementary schools throughout California were eligible to apply for the award this year, with only 772 receiving it. The award recognized middle and high schools last year, with Hawthorne Middle School, Prairie Vista Middle School, and Hawthorne Math and Science Academy being named as 2015 recipients.

Schools applied for the award based on an adopted model program or practice that includes standards-based activities, projects, and strategies that can be replicated by other schools and school districts.

The Gold Ribbon Awards recognize California schools that have made gains in implementing the academic content and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education. These include the California Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, California English Language Development Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards.

“We are so pleased to have the California Department of Education formally recognize the hard work and achievement of these outstanding elementary schools,” said Hawthorne School District Superintendent Dr. Helen E. Morgan. “Our students, staff, and families are so deserving of this honor and we join them in celebrating their Gold Ribbon School status.”

Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Academy

On Friday, May 13th, Ramona School’s Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Academy celebrated its end of the year performance at the Hawthorne Memorial Center. This year’s opening dance was a treat! Mrs. Mace’s second grade class and Hawthorne School District’s Superintendent, Dr. Helen E. Morgan, danced to La Culebra (folkloric dance). Dr. Morgan and the second grade girls didn't miss a step while swaying their brightly colored skirts to the rhythm of the music. The second grade boys kept pace while keeping the beat with their feet. Ramona School’s TWBI teachers choreographed their own dances this year. A variety of music was featured this night: salsa, merengue, Latin pop, and line dancing to mention a few. All of the dances were expertly choreographed, and the students enjoyed showing off their hard work to the audience. The audience (HSD Board Members, HSD Administration, and countless parents) enjoyed TWBI’s end of the year performance.

The Cultural Fair projects were beautifully showcased! The culminating projects for each of the TWBI classes displayed the history, culture, music, and art from several Latin American countries.

Hawthorne School District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination based on gender, actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, or age, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. If you believe you have been discriminated against, immediately contact the principal, designee at the school office or District Office at (310) 676-2276.

With the start of the new year, we will see another change in the Hawthorne School District. . . school uniforms at all eleven of our school sites. While many of our schools have had a uniform dress policy in place for several years, we are expanding the practice to all of our schools. Each school has gone through the process of working with their School Site Councils to make a recommendation to the Hawthorne School District Board of Trustees for adoption and implementation on January 11, 2016.

The schools that will see the implementation in January 2016 include: Kornblum Elementary, Ramona Elementary, Bud Carson Middle School, Hawthorne Middle School, and Prairie Vista Middle School. We have held multiple parent meetings to inform the community of the upcoming change. The uniforms include a solid color collared shirt with a twill fabric bottom. In an attempt to make the acquisition of uniforms as simple as possible we have kept the requirements very basic.School uniforms will assist staff in identifying students who belong on campus and helps to identify our students when out in the community. Uniforms help to establish a safe and productive culture at a school and we look forward to very positive outcomes with our implementation.

If you have any questions regarding uniforms please contact your school office for further information. I would like to wish the entire Hawthorne Community a very Happy New Year and look forward to another exciting year in 2016!

Mission Statement

To maximize each student’s potential to achieve educational excellence.

Vision Statement

A diverse community of lifelong learners who excel and positively contribute to an advancing global society.

Core Values

We believe:

Students are the focus of all decisions.

All students, parents, staff and community members
are empowered, supported and held accountable for
their role in the educational process.

A personal commitment to excellence is expected of all students, parents, staff and community members.

A safe, innovative and supportive learning environment is maintained where resources are allocated to support social-emotional well-being, student learning, technology and collaboration.

Local businesses, private
and public agencies and the entire
community are integral partners
in the educational process.

All individuals are valued
and treated with dignity,
courtesy and respect.

The 6th Annual Family and Pet Extravaganza

HMSA's Esau Berumen Among the 30 Most Influential California High School Principals

Mometrix Test Preparation posted who they believe to be the 30 Most Influential California High School Principals. A system was devised in which “points” were awarded to each principal based on a wide variety of data available to the public, including national and state awards, national and state “rankings,” average SAT scores, ‘college readiness,’ and more. After the data was gathered and sorted, “points” were then awarded and tallied.

Coming in at #26 is Mr. Esau Berumen of Hawthorne Math and Science Academy. Since stepping into his current role, Principal Berumen has been an integral part of his school being honored by U.S. News & World Report who recognized HMSA with two different accolades, naming the school the 12th most ‘college ready’ high school in California and one of the top 30 overall schools in the state. The California Department of Education also awarded Principal Berumen and his school with a 2015 California Gold Ribbon School award, one of the best accolades a California high school can receive. Congratulations to Principal Berumen and Hawthorne Math and Science Academy!